Excelsior!

Greetings True Believers! To celebrate the release of Marvel's The Avengers on DVD and BluRay, this week I'll be counting down the; 

Top 10 Stan Lee Cameos in Marvel films! 

So without any further ado: 

10. Fantastic Four (2005) 
- My man Stan pops up as Willie the Mailman, a staple of FF comics since the 1960s, creating a great little nod to the fans in what is, otherwise, a pretty poor film. 

9. Daredevil (2003) 
- A young Matt Murdock has discovered his powers and is training in secret when he prevents Stan Lee from walking into traffic. A nice little scene that's not on the nose. 

8. Thor (2011) 
- Stan Lee wrecks a pickup truck trying to pull Mjolnir out of a crater, his line? "Did it work?" Stan can be a funny guy. 

7. The Incredible Hulk (2008) 
- Stan Lee is on-screen maybe as much a two seconds in this film as he drinks a Gamma-tainted energy drink and keels over. The only film to kill Stan Lee to date. 

6. Iron Man (2008) 
- On his way into a party, Tony Stark stops to greet Hugh Hefner, as played by Stan Lee, complete with pipe, smoking jacket and bunnies. Funny and memorable without being distrating, bravo. 

5. The Avengers (2012) 
- "Superheroes? In New York? Give me a break." It's funny because Stan Lee created so many heroes that live in New York, see? Ok... yeah... I'm a nerd. 

4. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- Top Army brass await Captain America when an aide walks in instead, Stan's response? "I though he'd be taller." 

3. Hulk (2003)
- Ang Lee's experimental, Freudian examination of the duality of Bruce Banner is, in my opinion, unfairly maligned, but it does give us a great double-whammy cameo with Stan Lee and Lou Ferrigno as security guards at the Gamma facility. Their response to the Hulk? "We need to beef up security around here." 

2. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) 
- A beautiful scene where librarian Stan listens to classical music whilst Peter and Curt tear up the school behind him. You know this kind of thing is working when the whole cinema is roaring with laughter. 

1. Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) 
- Ok, so this film is terrible, but it does give us one of Marvel's most iconic moments, the marriage of Reed and Sue. A familiar face is trying to get in only to be told that he's not on the list; "I'm Stan Lee!" "Sure you are buddy." Fourth-wall breaking? Yes. Hilarious? Hell yes.

Now I'm off to watch The Avengers again... 

Hat Guy - Earth's mightiest pedant.  

Musical Team-ups I'd Like to See...

Just a quick update today, in a bit of a funk of late and forcing myself to write. So, fair warning, this may not be the best entry I've done to date. 

There exists in popular music a grand tradition of two (or more) acts teaming up to create a fantastic hit. True, most of these team ups are pretty terrible (Islands in the Stream, Dancing in the Street), but there have also been a couple of great dual efforts in the past like "Smooth" (Santana and Rob Thomas) and the Bowie/Queen version of Under Pressure. Rap artists can never seem to go a whole album without getting a couple of guest artists on to shoot some rimes. 

So, without further ado, here is a list of team-ups I'd like to see (hear?); this list is not exhaustive, just a few off the top of my head... 

Public Enemy and Lupe Fiasco 

Public Enemy, the original social activist Rap group and Lupe Fiasco, the Muslim-American social activist rapper. I imagine that the two would come up with something a bit like an American version of "Thou Shalt Always Kill", a rapid-fire tirade on all the things wrong with contemporary American culture and the oppression of minorities. 

Andrew W.K. and Lady Gaga 

Confused? Both Andrew and Gaga have one major theme in common, the promotion of self-esteem. Andrew (I can call you Andrew right?) focuses on partying as a method of self-expression, party how you want and fuck anyone who tells you not to enjoy yourself. Gaga tells her "Monsters" to love themselves and live their lives how they see fit. If these two could get together (musically, Andrew is happily married), the result would be the greatest party song ever created. The only problem I can foresee is the blending of styles, Andrew does Power Metal and Gaga makes 80s pop. I think maybe they could meet in the middle with 80s Hair Metal? Given Andrew's fantastic work on "Gundam Rock", I think it could work. 

Devo and Weezer 

The two greatest Nerd Bands of their respective generations unite! Not much to really explain with this one, I'm thinking a combination of "Girl U Want" (Devo) and "Buddy Holly" (Weezer). Both bands have a big pop appeal but still maintain that subversive edge that really makes them worthwhile acts. While I'm dreaming, I may throw They Might Be Giants into this mix... 

Henry Rollins and Iggy Pop 

Iggy and Rollins have had this kind of fake "rivalry" going on for decades now, often going back to back at festivals to compete with one another. It's about time they got together and did an album like Kanye and Jay Z, before they get too over the hill. Besides, Punk Rock really needs a kick in the rear to get going again and Rollins and Iggy could do that without breaking a sweat. 

That's it for now, see you next time. 

Hat Guy - The world's forgotten boy. 

Essential Listening: R.E.M.

Those that have read my blog with as much regularity as my sparse updates can allow should already be well aware of my love of Athens-based indy group R.E.M. and their varied back catalog. I find it interesting that whilst most people I talk to can name one or two R.E.M. songs (usually "It's the End of the Word As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and "Everybody Hurts") there are few that readily admit to being fans. I think this can be put down to one of the major things that attracts me to R.E.M. as a group; their diversity. When pushed, I would categorize R.E.M. as "Indy Pop", but this is only due to the fact that this is the broadest genre that seems to fit them. Over the course of their career, R.E.M. have dabbled in various flavors of Pop, Rock and even Folk, Bluegrass and Country. R.E.M. have never been beholden to what people expect of them (for the most part) and have always done what they felt like doing and this can be off-putting to the non-pretentious art student crowd. That aside, R.E.M. are still brilliant, even their charting Pop hits are far more intricate and cerebral than most Pop songs, which is probably a reason for their continued success. 

So the thing with R.E.M. is, every R.E.M. fan has a different take on the band. There are Pop R.E.M. fans, IRS era R.E.M. fans and a great many other varieties of people who will talk your ear off about how awesome R.E.M. are. Given that, here's the deal; this is MY pick of R.E.M., this is the stuff I like. If you like something different, great, but this is the R.E.M. that does it for me. I recommend that you listen to way more R.E.M. than just the three albums here to really get an idea what the band is like, however, I still think these are a good place to start. 

Automatic for the People (1992)

Ok, so I like the "Mainstream" R.E.M. album, why do I like it? Because it's good damn it. This is the R.E.M. album that seems to be the most common to own, even though I wasn't really into music when this came out (I was in Primary School), I still remember it being all over the radio despite its downbeat mood. Riding on the back of the Grunge movement, R.E.M. became really big for a little bit in the '90s as people began to realize that they were all depressed before it was cool. I love this song, it's beautiful and a perfect example of R.E.M.'s mastery of slower and less "poppy" songs. 

Green (1988)

This song is about the Vietnam War. For some reason people can never figure that out, despite the fact that Michael Stipe has repeatedly said as much in interviews. Anyway, Green is one of the albums (and R.E.M. one of the bands) that music historians reference as a big inspiration for the Seattle Grunge Movement that gave us Nirvana. If that still isn't enough reason for you to check out this album, it also features some of R.E.M.'s best pop work with songs like "Stand", which remains one of my favorite pop songs of all time. 

Around the Sun (2004) 

Yeah, ok, so I've put this exact video in one of my reviews before (a no-prize for the first to say which one) but this song is that good. Around the Sun is not the last good R.E.M. album released before they split up, but it does serve as an excellent example of how the band maintained their skill over an extended career. R.E.M. were just as good more than a decade after their big hit album, if not better. Around the Sun is probably the R.E.M. album I'll listen to most often, the progression of songs and overall flow of the album is excellent and R.E.M. have never been tighter. Maybe it's not the "best" R.E.M. album, or the most "artistic", but Around the Sun remains one of my personal favorites in the genre of Pop. 

R.E.M. are a brilliant band and if you're only listening to "Losing My Religion" you're missing out. Check out some more R.E.M. and you'll be hearing one of the greatest bands in history. 

Hat Guy - Stand in the place where you live. 

Next Time: Something to do with rap... I've been listening to a lot of Rap recently...

BAYNH: Bluejuice

Ok, so maybe you have heard of Bluejuice, they've been around for a few years and more than one of their songs has been featured on JJJ and Rage. That said, this fantastic Sydney-based pop group certainly doesn't get the recognition they deserve. In terms of genre, Bluejuice has been wandering a bit, they're mostly an alternative pop group, but there's some experimental Hip Hop and Dance tracks in their back catalog. 

Bluejuice's recent album, Company, is by far their best to date. The fun Pop beats and lyrics make for some great songs to dance and party to. For those who've read my "Help Me I hate: Pop Music" article, you know that I can really get into a decent pop song, so Company has had a bit of a workout on the office cd player. And now, Bluejuice: 

Shock 

Life isn't what you thought it would be and you're getting older, pretty heavy stuff for a four chord pop song, but Bluejuice make it fun to lament your lost youth with this snappy number. The diminished keyboard strings and the backing harmony really sell this song for me as well as the tight writing, fitting a decent bridge in 2:40 and building a real melancholy mood. This perhaps resonates better with those who have grown up just a little and have a couple of regrets, but any lamenting song I can dance to is good in my books. 

Vitriol 

God I love this video. The song? Not bad, but you can tell that Bluejucie is still trying to find their voice. That said, pretending to be a cult in a Sydney mall is hilarious and the intro makes me laugh every time. I picked this song and video because it demonstrates just how damn FUN Bluejuice can be; I'm told this is present in their live gigs as well, but I'm yet to get the chance to see them in person. So, always remember that the universe is composed of millions of tiny spiders and that the inside of a jar of peanut butter is negative space. 

Aspen, New York

There may be way too many songs about New York, but damn it if I'm not a sucker for a good piano riff. Seriously, there's not enough pianoforte in contemporary pop, or really good harmony like in this song. Come to think of it, this song about a long-distance relationship filled with longing and hope reminds me of They Might Be Giant's New York City, and not just because of the name. Man I gotta find more good alt pop... 

That's it for this week, enjoy Bluejuice, if you weren't already. 

Hat Guy - You keep sayin' all that stuff... 

Essential Listening: Bruce Springsteen

When it comes to Rock music, there are few people I recommend more highly than Bruce Springsteen. Known best for his Stadium Rock, the Boss actually has one of the most interesting musical catalogs of all the big name rockers, having explored Folk, Gospel, Country and even some recent forays into Hip Hop. The problem is, most people are still only familiar with his 1980s "Born In the USA" era Stadium Rock work, which is, frankly, about his worst work. That said, having your "worst work" be a hugely successful Anti-Vietnam anthem that attacks the core of the decaying American morality isn't really as bad as it could be. 

So where do you start with Springsteen? Honestly, picking up an "Essential Bruce Springsteen" is a pretty good move, but to get a real feel of what the Boss is capable of, I think there's a grand total of three albums that you need to check out. 

Nebraska 

Released two years before Born in the USA, Nebraska is the other side of the coin from 'USA. Whereas 'USA is angry and hopeful, Nebraska is dark, mournful and hopeless. The America presented in Nebraska is a land where all the opportunity has dried up, young people can only hope to work the same soul-crushing jobs that their fathers have done for 40 years and wind up marrying their prom date after they accidentally got her pregnant. This is not an uplifting album, it is an album about all the things wrong with 1980s America, about the death of the American Dream and how the greed of the few is killing the future of the many. Still a pointent message nearly thirty years on. 

We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions 

I love American Folk music and there are few Folk albums out there this good. The Boss and friends retreated to his mountain cabin for a few weeks and recorded this album in 2006 and it remains a favorite of die-hard Springsteen fans to this day. Although this may not be the most accessible Springsteen album, it does show the sheer talent of the Boss and the musicians he associates with and just how damn good some of these classic American songs are. If you can't get into this, listen to it once, give it a few days, then come back to it and see how you feel. Like smokey whiskey or blue cheese, this can be something of an acquired taste. I'd still much rather listen to this than to Dancing in the Dark however. 

Magic 

Some people question my love of this particular album, but I have my reasons. There was a bit of buzz around this in 2007, it was getting played on the radio and the Boss was doing a lot of TV spots to push it, so I got curios and checked it out. The first track Radio Nowhere blew me away. This thing was a Bolt from the Blue, before Magic, Bruce Springsteen was something your parents listened to and now he was everywhere. What this song, and this album, really demonstrate is Springsteen's ability to compose an ensemble piece, there are a lot of instruments in this song, but they all blend together perfectly, creating a wonderful harmony. Aside from being one of my favorite Springsteen albums, Magic is one of my favorite albums period. When I think about the Boss, this is the first album I go to. 

So where does that leave Wrecking Ball? Personally, I think Wrecking Ball is one of the best albums of 2012 so far, but I'm not sure if it will have the longevity of Nebraska. Wrecking Ball feels like a culmination of where the Boss has been and where he is going musically; there's a great deal of anger in the album but also a hope that can be, at times, uplifting. Expect to see the Boss on my 2012 Top Ten early next year. 

Next Time: Something Else

Hat Guy - The streets are paved with diamonds and the gutter's lined with song

When it's time to party...

Ok, so it's been a while since I bothered to post anything, but there's a good reason. I am now approaching the end of my tertiary education and finally have some spare time to dedicate to writing something other than essays. So, in order to make up for my absence (and to celebrate my freedom) I'm going to give the people what they want; a pointless "Top 10" list!

Hat Guy's 10 Favorite Party Songs (In no particular order)

Let's face it, everyone likes to party. To me, nothing makes a party like good party music, you don't even have to dance, just rock out or groove a little. The best party music, to me, makes me feel good to be alive, it makes me want to cut loose and have fun. Hence, this list contains very few "Party Standards" like Celebration or the Nutbush, because I fucking hate these songs. Any song that I'm pretty much guaranteed to hear at a wedding reception or 21st, I'm gonna be pretty sick of, having heard it repeatedly at such gatherings. No. I like to rock out a bit when I party as you'll see below. These songs are the first things I'll throw on a playlist for any party I'm hosting, I just love to hear them and Party Hard! 

1. I Get Wet - Andrew WK 

Fuck. Yeah. If there's anyone that can party harder and better than Andrew WK, I've never heard of them. The man is a Party Virtuoso, spreading his philosophy of Partying to a grateful world; seeing him live was one of the most life-affirming experiences I've ever had. If you want to kick any party from 0 to 100 in under four minutes, Get Wet. I also like this one because it doesn't have "Party" in the title, not that his songs that do are bad, I just prefer this one. 

2. Kick Out the Jams - Henry Rollins and Bad Brains

So it turns out I'm a Punk Rocker and I like to party to Punk music and this song is pretty much Punk Bonox. If you could condense all of the music, attitude and history of the punk music into three minutes, you'd end up with this song. Not only a cover of MC5's classic Proto-Punk party anthem, the vocals are provided by Henry Rollins himself with the backing of Bad Brains, one of the most influential Punk acts ever. This song is pretty much a staple of Punk covers and there are my good versions of it out there, but I just couldn't pass up this one. It's a shame that the only recording of it I can find is on the soundtrack to Pump Up The Volume, a mediocre 80s music movie. 

3. Stand - R.E.M. 

I really wish I could have found the video where Michael Stipe and the two girls dance topless, that one's much better. R.E.M. are brilliant and this song is awesome, even if the lyrics are a bit obtuse and it never did get as big as some of their other stuff. Stand is a great demonstration of R.E.M.'s pop credentials, it's catchy, fun, light and easy to dance to. It's a shame that this song has fallen out of popularity. 

4. Zero - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs 
No Video, see my "Help Me I Hate: Pop Music" article for why this song is awesome. 

5. I'm On a Boat - The Lonely Island feat. T Pain 

I used to HATE this song. However, over the years it grew on me, and like the fungus on my foot, I now can't imagine life without it. I've talked about the Lonely Island guys before, so I won't repeat myself here, but this song is a great one to sing along to with all your drunk friends. 

6. Thrash Unreal - Against Me! 

Sometimes you don't party because you're happy. Sometimes you party because life sucks and you've got nothing better to do. Thrash Unreal is about the second kind of party. If you want to get blitzed and forget about tomorrow, this is the song to throw on and dance your aggression out to. My mixed feelings about Against Me! aside, this song is fantastic, desperate yet triumphant, sad yet hopeful. More of this please Against Me! 

7. Gettin' In the Mood - The Brian Setzer Orchestra

 After Stray Cats, Brian Setzer started up a Swing Orchestra and made the world a better place to live in. This Rockabilly-ed update of a Glenn Miller classic is great to dance to and the perfect example of how great music never goes out of style. If you'll excuse me, I need to go quiff my hair up and shine my bowling shoes. Also, if you still think Slash is the greatest guitarist of all time, check out some old Stray Cats clips and get ready to have your mind blown.

8. I Want You Back - The Jackson 5 

There's nothing wrong with the classics and for me, there's nothing more classic than Motown. Forget about MJ for this one and focus on Tito's Bass playing, the man is an under-appreciated genius. A few covers of  this song have gained some popularity in the past few years, but to me, none can compare to the original. Never forget that the Jackson 5 were the biggest band on the planet at one time, outselling the Beatles and touring nonstop. I'm not going to dwell upon MJ's life or any of the accusations thrown at him, but man these guys could play. 

9. C'Mon Everybody - The Sex Pistols 

Another cover, but this one has a great history and my be the last video Sid Viscous recorded before he was (probably) killed by Malcolm McClaren. After Johnny Rotten left the band, Sid did most of the vocals and he appears a lot in their last few videos. Sid is clearly high whilst signing this song, he can't follow the tune and slurs a lot of the lines. God rest you Sid, you will be missed. 

10. Rock Lobster - The B52's 

I HATE Love Shack. I've heard it so many times that all I can hear is dunk wedding goers trying to sing along without knowing all the words. Rock Lobster, on the other hand, is pure genius. Everything about this song is wrong; the verses don't match, the vocals are on the wrong octave and the chord changes come out of nowhere, but somehow, it works. The B52's are way bigger and better than Love Shack would indicate, check out some of their other work, starting out with this song. It's a Rock Lobster! 

Hat Guy - I get wet, without even trying. 

Next Time: Like the Boss 

Intoduction to The List

I'm taking a break from my usual "tell you what music to like" format to talk about a little project of mine. I read Empire (Australia) magazine, one of the better film publications out there for the casual reader; and one of the regular sections I enjoy the most is "Masterpiece", where a classic film is broken down and discussed to uncover just why it is so good. In the issue 100 Special (July 2009), Masterpiece was guest-written by Frank Darabont, the writer and director of The Shawshank Redemption; instead of focusing on a single Film, Darabont provided about 10 films in each genre that he recommends to Film Students to broaden their understanding of the medium.

I've been watching this list of 221 films for a couple of years now and I've noticed a couple of things: 

1. Pretty much every film is American, there are almost no films not in English. 
2. The genres are a bit funny, there are no Documentaries, Musicals and Music Films are lumped together and "Animated" seems to stand in for "Children's Films". 
3. There are no Short Films. What's the deal Darabont? La Jette not good enough for you? 
4. Some of these films are terrible. Genuinely bad cinema that I would not suggest to anyone. 

I'm yet to finish any particular genre in The List, but I'm getting close to completing a couple. When I finally finish one (or more) I'll be discussing them here and providing my own list to contrast. So there's something to look forward to. 

Right now, I'm knee-deep in uni work, but as soon as I write my way out, expect something new and possibly Springsteen-related. 

Hat Guy - "I've been knocking on the door that holds the throne,"